Conversion of light hydrocarbons to higher hydrocarbons

Abstract

A process is disclosed for catalytically converting light hydrocarbons, such as natural gas, to saturated or unsaturated higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as ethylene, propylene, ethyl benzene, and styrene. The process employs gaseous catalyst or a mixture of catalysts selected from hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen halides other then hydrogen fluoride, halogen other than fluorine, sulfur vapor, and/or sulfur containing hydrocarbons.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for preparing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and one or more saturated or unsaturated higher molecular weight hydrocarbons which comprises: reacting methane and free oxygen in the presence of a gaseous hydrogen sulfide catalyst under conditions that permit pyrolytic oxidation of methane and substantial regeneration of said gaseous catalyst. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 in which a source of methane is methane-containing hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 in which a source of methane is natural gas. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 in which a source of free oxygen is a free oxygen containing gas. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 4 in which the free oxygen containing gas is air. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 in which a source of hydrogen sulfide catalyst is sulfur vapor. 
     
     
       7. A process for preparing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and one or more saturated or unsaturated higher molecular weight hydrocarbons which comprises: reacting methane and free oxygen in the presence of a gaseous halogen other than fluorine under conditions that permit pyrolytic oxidation of methane and formation of hydrogen halide. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 7 in which a source of methane is methane-containing hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 8 in which a source of methane is natural gas. 
     
     
       10. The process of claim 7 in which a source of free oxygen is a free oxygen containing gas. 
     
     
       11. The process of claim 10 in which the free oxygen containing gas is air. 
     
     
       12. A process for preparing aromatic hydrocarbons containing alkyl and/or vinyl substituent groups, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen which comprises simultaneously reacting methane, one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of benzene and the alkyl benzenes, and free oxygen in the presence of a homogeneous gas-phase catalyst which comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur vapor under conditions that permit pyrolytic oxidation of methane and formation of hydrogen sulfide. 
     
     
       13. The process of claim 12 in which a source of methane is methane-containing hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 13 in which a source of methane is natural gas. 
     
     
       15. The process of claim 14 in which a source of free oxygen is a free oxygen containing gas. 
     
     
       16. The process of claim 15 in which the free oxygen containing gas is air. 
     
     
       17. The process of claim 6 in which a source of methane is methane-containing hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim 6 in which a source of free oxygen is a free oxygen containing gas. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 9 in which the saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons include halogenated hydrocarbons having two or more carbon atoms.